San Francisco

Up for Debate: Rent Control Expansion in San Francisco

A newly elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has proposed an expansion of rent control that would circumvent state laws that limit such measures.

February 5, 2016 - Beyond Chron

Skyscrapers and Starchitects Coming Soon to Downtown San Francisco

Take a tour of the changes coming the to the Transbay District in San Francisco.

January 31, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Political Battles Heating Up Over Affordable Housing in San Francisco

An affordable housing ballot measure opposed by affordable housing advocates: welcome to the strange housing politics of San Francisco.

January 26, 2016 - San Francisco Magazine

Map

Getting Residents Engaged in Participatory Mapping

Participatory mapping has become an increasingly popular planning tool. The examples that follow highlight how communities are using participatory mapping.

January 18, 2016 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Step Aside San Francisco: The Tech Industry Still Calls the Silicon Valley Home

You wouldn't be alone if you thought the tech industry had shifted its base of operations from the Silicon Valley to San Francisco. A new study of the tech industry's real estate footprint, however, reveals the South Bay's entrenched dominance.

January 12, 2016 - Silicon Valley Business Journal

San Francisco's Yellow Cab to File for Bankruptcy

San Francisco's largest cab company is planning to file for bankruptcy very soon. The competition from transportation network companies is forcing the company, and likely the industry, to completely restructure.

January 7, 2016 - San Francisco Examiner

Spotlight on San Francisco's Extremely Green PUC Headquarters

San Francisco's PUC headquarters, "one of the greenest buildings in the nation," cut costs while introducing cutting-edge sustainable technologies to the city.

December 28, 2015 - The Planning Report

Orange Line Bus

Remix Promises to Streamline Transit Planning

Based out of San Francisco, Remix is an intuitive, data-rich tool for transit planners as they consider new routes. All you need to do is draw out the line on a map and add stops.

December 24, 2015 - Next City

Which Fears Are Blocking Solutions in Your City?

A former planning commissioner recalls often being surprised at the passion and anger displayed toward small changes around the city of San Francisco, and attempted to get to the nature of the fear driving the opposition.

December 22, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bus Stop Winter

The Quest for Accuracy in Predicting Bus Arrivals Has a New Friend

With better predictions, an app may help alleviate the urban annoyance of waiting for the bus that was supposed to arrive 10 minutes ago.

December 14, 2015 - Medium

San Francisco's Diesel Bus and Truck Fleet Just Got Much Greener

San Francisco's diesel vehicles have been using a biodiesel blend for years, but in a move that illustrates the differences among biofuels, Mayor Ed Lee announced that the fleet will now use 100 percent renewable diesel fuel.

December 14, 2015 - City and County of San Francisco Office of the Mayor

Beware of Energy Rankings for Cities

In a special "Energy for Tomorrow" report, The New York Times looks at "clean city rankings" of energy efficiency and land use. But ranking cities is no easy task—"winners on one list may appears as sinners on another."

December 10, 2015 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Atlanta 24-27 Feb 2010

The Nation's Most Equal (and Unequal) Cities

In the United States, urban wealth and poverty are often quite segregated. But they can also be next-door neighbors. This article looks at cities with the highest and lowest levels of income inequality.

December 7, 2015 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Mobility

Three Ways Mobile Transit Payments Will Change How We Move in Cities

One idea for how to make transit better is rolling out in cities across the country: mobile payment of fares on smartphones.

November 23, 2015 - Regina R. Clewlow

Three Examples from San Francisco that San Diego Can Use for the I.D.E.A. District

Three examples of problem solving and "catalytic action" can help San Diego with its I.D.E.A. District, writes former SPUR director Jim Chappell.

November 20, 2015 - UrbDeZine

San Francisco

San Francisco Planning Department Proposes Increasing Heights in Neighborhoods

The San Francisco Planning Department is proposing a trade-off to neighborhoods to comply with a state density bonus law: Modestly increase height and density limits in exchange for more affordable housing.

November 19, 2015 - Hoodline

San Francisco

San Francisco Mega-Project Sets the 'Affordable' Bar High

A mega-project in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood is exciting for its size an prize tag—and remarkable for the income levels that define "affordable" in San Francisco these days.

November 17, 2015 - San Francisco Business Times

Google Bus Opponents Argue Need for CEQA Study in San Francisco Superior Court

On Friday, tech bus opponents took their case to court, arguing that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act due to impacts including air quality and community displacement.

November 16, 2015 - San Francisco Examiner

recycled water sign

San Francisco Leading the Way in Water Recycling

San Francisco's water district has become the first in the nation to require newly constructed large buildings to collect and reuse nonpotable water.

November 4, 2015 - SPUR Blog

Lombard Street San Francisco

Housing and Tech Industry Showdown on the San Francisco Ballot

In tomorrow's citywide election, San Francisco voters are faced with a suite of ballot propositions essentially offering a referendum on hot button issues like gentrification, neighborhood character, and supply vs. demand.

November 2, 2015 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.